Kroes: Holland mustn’t force cable to open up

Commissioner Neelie Kroes, Vice President, European Commission, has confirmed in a meeting with European cable CEOs in Brussels that the European Commission opposes draft legislation by the legislator in the Netherlands to force cable operators to open up their networks to third parties

Two particular amendments related to the Dutch implementation of EU Telecom Directive as well as one amendment to the country’s media law have been the focus of concern by the cable industry. The industry has previously questioned their compliance with the EU regulatory framework which only opens up infrastructure in the instance of a market analysis which has identified a dominant network.

Commissioner Kroes clearly stated that the Commission will use all of its powers to oppose these amendments, which are not in line with the European Framework, in a private meeting held this week in Brussels with Rodrigo Costa, CEO, ZON, Mike Fries, CEO, Liberty Global, Duco Sickinghe, CEO, Telenet, Bernard Dijkhuizen, CEO, Ziggo Andrew Barron, COO, Virgin Media and Manuel Cubero, COO, Kabel Deutschland Group.